wriggle

1 of 2

verb

wrig·​gle ˈri-gəl 

wriggled; wriggling ˈri-g(ə-)liŋ 

intransitive verb

1

: to move the body or a bodily part to and fro with short writhing motions like a worm : squirm

2

: to move or advance by twisting and turning

3

: to extricate or insinuate oneself or reach a goal as if by wriggling

transitive verb

1

: to cause to move in short quick contortions

2

: to introduce, insinuate, or bring into a state or place by or as if by wriggling

wriggly

ˈri-g(ə-)lē 

adjective

wriggle

2 of 2

noun

1

: a short or quick writhing motion or contortion

2

: a formation or marking of sinuous design

Synonyms

Verb

• fiddle
• fidget
• jerk
• jig
• jiggle
• squiggle
• squirm
• thrash
• thresh
• toss
• twist
• twitch
• wiggle
• writhe

Examples of wriggle in a Sentence

Verb

The children wriggled and squirmed in their chairs.

She managed to wriggle free of her ropes.

They wriggled out of their wet clothes.

I had trouble getting the wriggling fish off my hook.

The snake wriggled across the path and went underneath a bush.

He was able to wriggle through the narrow opening.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Unlike dogs, rats can wriggle through the cracks and crevasses of a container ship. —Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 30 Oct. 2024

Nonetheless, a unique profile and a mischievous knack for wriggling through challenges would add refreshing variety to Pep Guardiola’s growing collection of tricky wingers. —Thom Harris, The Athletic, 19 July 2024

Noun

Most parents are introduced to dread with the wriggles of a new baby that seems so easy to break, a change in circumstance that forever belies one’s former, perhaps relatively carefree, existence. —Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 17 Nov. 2024

Clean, simple things are made of an endless wriggle of parts. —Jackson Arn, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from or akin to Middle Low German wriggeln to wriggle; akin to Old English wrigian to turn — more at wry

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

1709, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing wriggle

• wriggle out of

Kids Definition

wriggle

1 of 2 verb

wrig·​gle ˈrig-əl 

wriggled; wriggling -(ə-)liŋ 

1

: to twist or move to and fro like a worm : squirm

wriggle in one's chair

wriggle one's toes

2

: to move along by twisting and turning

the eel wriggled its way upstream

wriggle

2 of 2 noun

1

: a short or quick twisting motion

2

: a formation or marking having a winding or twisting course or appearance